Peter Joseph Karlin was born to Leo and Martha Etzel Karlin on October 8, 1938, in Hays, Kansas. He died Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at theMitchell County Hospital in Beloit. Pete's life was spent in education as a teacher and as an administrator. He taught in Damar, Victoria, Courtland, Beloit, Jennings, and Utica, Kansas.

The youngest of fifteen children, he was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Sister Leonissa Leocadia (Katy) and Martha Jean; brothers Felix, Leroy, Gerard, and Norman who died in infancy; brothers Herb, Larry, and Fred. He is survived by sisters Sister Mary Martha of Fond duLac Wisconsin and Betty Pfeifer of Hays; brothers John of Hillsboro, Oregon and Tom of Lakewood, Washington and numerous nieces and nephews.

Pete was born with a debilitating disease, syringomyelia which increasingly limited his control of his body, but he did not let it interfere with his passions, education, politics and ecology. It devastated his body but not his spirit. Known in his family as the pater familia (father of the family) many family gatherings were held wherever Pete, his mother and brother Herb made their home. The three of them took care of each other. Pete's faith was very important to him and his strong beliefs guided his many projects and community involvement.

Pete will be deeply missed by his immediate family and the "family" he adopted among the residents and staff at Hilltop Lodge when he could no longer live alone. His final wish was to donate his body to medical research so that he could continue "teaching" after his death. Unfortunately, this was not able to be done. His body was cremated and memorial services are pending. Burial of his ashes will be in the family plot at St. Severin Cemetery near Hays. McDonald Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.